Strength of Present legal Framework for Groundwater Protection and Regulation in India

Abstract

The ‘environmental clearance (EC)’ is mandatory for establishment of new projects or
activities including expansion or modernization of existing projects under the Environment
Protection Act, 1986. The ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ is also mandatory for
withdrawal of groundwater or surface water from the competent authority for environmental
clearance. The NOC for groundwater abstraction is included in the ‘application’ to the central
or state governments for issuance of the environmental clearance. The Central Ground Water
Authority has issued guidelines for abstraction of groundwater (with effect from 15.11.2012)
in the country. The present write-up attempts to discuss broadly the strength of the prevailing
framework for implementation of the guidelines for groundwater abstraction and to infer how
far it has been effective to safeguard the groundwater resources leading to the sustainable
economic development.